June 14th is World Blood Donor Day

Every year on June 14th, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day (WBDD). This event, established in 2004, is one of eight global public health campaigns marked by the World Health Organization (WHO), which serves to raise awareness for the need of safe blood and blood products while thanking participants for their voluntarily lifesaving gifts of blood. Every minute of every day someone in Canada requires blood for medical care whether it be for surgery, blood transfusions, cancer treatments, or managing diseases and disorders, making blood donations a crucial link in our health care.

But did you know, donating blood can also benefit the donor? Regular donations of blood can help reduce iron levels in individuals who suffer from hemochromatosis, and lower total mean cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, protecting the body from cardiovascular disease. And let’s not forget, perhaps the most notable benefit of being a blood donor is feeling good about yourself, knowing that your donation of blood is aiding the medical care of another individual.

The benefits of blood donation are all-inclusive, from donor to patient. To learn more about donating blood and how you can contribute, check out Canadian Blood Services at https://www.blood.ca/en.